Obamateurism of the Day

Ed MorrisseyPosted at 8:01 am on October 4, 2012

Nothing says sincerity like campaign promises, huh? Last week, Barack Obama released a two-minute TV spot in which he directly talked into the camera and made a few promises about his second term. The problem, as Guy Benson discovered, is that most of these promises are recycled from his first presidential campaign:

(1) His “plan” is to magically create a million manufacturing jobs. Never mind the fact that the manufacturing sector has shed well over half a million jobs during his tenure, including 15,000 last month alone. Focus on the words.

(3) He calls for new “investments” to help build our economy. Never mind that his investment record (using our money and borrowed funds) has been piss poor over the last four years, and that we’re trillions in the hole because of it. Focus on the words.

(4) He says he’ll reduce the deficit through a “balanced” approach. Never mind that he’s shattered his first-term promise to halve the deficit by now, and that his claimed war “savings” have been pummeled by fact-checkers as a thoroughly unserious gimmick. Focus on the words.

It’s time for a new economic patriotism. Rooted in the belief that growing our economy begins with a strong, thriving middle class. Read my plan. Compare it to Governor Romney’s and decide for yourself. Thanks for listening.

Sounds more severely protectionist, and as Guy points out (and I did earlier as well), more likely to produce jobs overseas by attacking capital that could be invested in the US. Looks like Obama’s not only recycling old unfulfilled campaign promises, he’s also recycling Smoot Hawley, too.

Got an Obamateurism of the Day? If you see a foul-up by Barack Obama, e-mail it to me at[email protected] with the quote and the link to the Obamateurism. I’ll post the best Obamateurisms on a daily basis, depending on how many I receive. Include a link to your blog, and I’ll give some link love as well. And unlike Slate, I promise to end the feature when Barack Obama leaves office.

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